Damper system



y 0, 1967 J. MITCHEILL 3,322,417

DAMPER SYSTEM Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHNMITCHELL ATTORNEY y 30, 1957 J. MIR-SHELL 3,322,417

DAMPER SYSTEM Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR.

\3 JOHN MITCHELL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,322,417 DAMPER SYSTEMJohn Mitchell, 3639 Emily St, San Pedro, Calif. 90731 Filed May 24,1965, Ser. No. 458,210 9 Claims. (Cl. 263-46) This invention relates ingeneral to dampers for kilns, and more particularly to an improveddamper system for intermittent ovens or kilns.

Damper systems have heretofore consisted of individually movable platesor tiles situated along and resting on the upper portion or roof of akiln or oven. As is well-known in the art, said upper portion or roof isgenerally composed of firebrick or other suitable refractory materialsusually disposed to form an arch or suspended roof which has theinherent ability to swell, rise or sink as the tempert ure or pressurewithin the oven increases or decreases, as the case may be. When thedamper tiles are placed in position to regulate the draft in the oven,covering or partially covering the flue openings in the roof of saidoven, they become practically inaccessible for adjustment. Even whenaccess is possible, they must be adjusted individually if there is morethan one flue opening.

Another problem with the conventional damper system is that the dampertiles usually rest directly upon the firebrick comprising the flueopening, and, when any adjustment of position is required to be made' tothem, due to the composition and physical characteristic-s of the dampertile itself, the possibility exists of a precipitant or tile fragmentfalling through the flue opening and contaminating any wares being firedor baked in the kiln. This is especially true and objectionable duringthe glazing process because of the adhesive composition of the glazeused for ceramic or clay wares at the point of fusion.

An additional problem inherent in the prior art pertains to theadjustment of the damper tile in that a very awkward and unsafecondition prevails due to the inaccessibility of the tiles themselvesfrom the ground. This necessitates personnel climbing upon the ovenroof, or attempting to poke or manually move the tiles without theability to perform same with any degree of precision or uniformity.

With the foregoing in mind, it is therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide an easily adjustable damper system in whichall of the above noted problems associated with the prior art are eitherovercome or substantially diminished.

More particularly, it is a further object of the present invention toprovide a damper system in which a damper tile or plate or amultiplicity of same are easily adjusted longitudinally without thenecessity of climbing to the top of a kiln.

Another object of the present invent-ion is to provide an improvedmethod of suspending a damper tile above its associated flue opening,but avoiding direct contact with said opening and thereby obviatingfriction caused by the necessary adjustment of said tile, which, inturn, prevents any flakes, chips or fragments of the damper tile fromfalling through the flue opening and on wares being fired in the kiln.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method ofsuspending damper tiles so that a floating action coincident with theexpansion, rising, contraction or sinking of the oven roof due toaforementioned temperature or pressure variations within the oven can beachieved.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forminutely adjusting damper tiles and doing same in a precise manner,either individually or in gangs or groups, so that the flue openingswill be evenly gapped to permit a more consistent passage of air orgases through said openings, or to direct said air or as required.

Further and additional objects and advantages of the present inventionare attained by providing a damper system comprising coplanar metalangles which form a horizontal framework that is suspended above but inclose relation with a oven roof. Said framework is permitted to rise andfall with the expansion and contraction of said oven roof whilemaintaining its previously established relative position above saidroof, .and such objects, advantages and capabilities will be readilyapparent and better understood from the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a typical ceramic oven orkiln in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a greatly reduced schematic view showing another type meansof moving the damper frame in a longitudinal direction along the ovenroof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the longigases within thekiln,

tudinal adjustment of the aforementioned damper framework isaccomplished by a manual means, hereinafter referred to, but theinvention is not limited to such means. As may be appreciated, thedamper actuating means comprising said framework may be controlled byelectrical or mechanical means of motivation, one embodiment of which ishereinafter referred to.

With reference to the drawing in detail, there is shown kiln, indicatedby the arrowed numeral 10, comprised of framework 11 consisting ofvertically disposed beam members 12 and 13 and connected at the topthereof by a horizontally disposed member 14, all of which are generallysteel or iron I-beams. Depending on the length of said kiln 10, theremay be a multiplicity of such frames 11, some of which are indicated bythe numerals 11a and 11b. Rotatable wheels 15 and 16 are mounted bysuitable means at the bottom of beam members 12 and 13 which permit thekiln 10 to ride and envelop upon tracks 17 and 18. A ware table orplatform 19, upon which several wares or ceramic objects 20 are to befired, is shown in the drawing.

Constructed and disposed within said framework 11 is a firebrick orrefractory firing chamber 21 having an arched roof 22 at a distancebelow said member 14. Said roof 22 is provided with a multiplicity offlue openings 23 longitudinally disposed therein. Disposed andconstructed between each flue opening 23 is a pier or piers 24 uponwhich parallel frame members 25 and 25a rest in contact thereon.Vertically disposed ateach end of said members 25 and 25a are hollowcylinders 26 and 27. Said cylinders 26 and 27 actually surround andreceive solid rods 28, 28a, 29 and 29a, which are weldably suspendedfrom bars 30 and 31 that are rigidly mounted to frame member 14. Anglemembers 32 and 33 are perpendicularly and rigidly mounted in alongitudinal plane to members 25 and 25a, respectively.

Frame members 25 and 25a, and angle members 32 and 33 comprise a rigidrectangular shaped framework which is able to move upwardly ordownwardly on rods 28 and 29 and 28a and 29a when said roof 22 expandsor contracts as a result of temperature or gas variations within saidfiring chamber 21. As may be appreciated, movement of the framework willbe achieved through the contact with piers 24 and 24a and its frictionalengagement with members 25 and 25a. Disposed within and parallel withsaid angle members 32 and 33 are angle members 34 and 35. Rigidlyconnected to the ends of said angle members 34 and 35 are members 36aand other members (not shown) to comprise a rigid rectangularly shapedframework indicated by arrowed numeral 36. Although frictionallyengaging angle members 32 and 33, framework 36 will move in alongitudinal manner as herein described. Actuation plate 37 is rigidlyand perpendicularly affixed to angle members 34 and 35 in a horizontalplane, and at each end thereof are rectangular openings 38 and 39 whichare adapted to receive in turn actuating levers 40 and 41 respectively.Said levers 40 and 41 are connected to rod 42, at the end of which is alever 43 for operation. As may be seen in FIGURE 1, if lever 43 is movedin the direction of arrow 44, movement of framework 36 will be achieved,as indicated by arrow 45. The damper tiles 46 and 47, which are looselyplaced upon and disposed within framework 36, will now move and becarried by framework 36 when lever 43 is actuated.

Said damper tiles 46 and 47 are kept at a finite distance, indicated bynumeral 48, from the top surface of flue openings 23 at all times evenduring their longitudinal adjustment. At no time will said tiles 46 and47 come in contact or engagement with the said flue openings 23 or thematerial comprising same. At such time as the oven roof 22 heavesupwardly, due to a change in the pressure of gases or temperature withinthe oven chamber 21, framework 36 will maintain its relative position tothe flue openings 23 as a result of being carried by members 32, 33, 25and 25a, and by said piers 24 pushing upwardly along the roof 22. As maybe seen, the entire damper system is free to float, although it rests onroof 22. This enables said system to maintain its position relative tothe flue openings 23. Lever members 40 and 41 are free to protrudethrough actuation plate 37 and form no barrier to the floating action ofthe said damper system.

With reference to FIGURE 5, it may be seen that lever 43 at the end ofrod 42 may be replaced by a worm gear 49 coacting with a worm 50 mountedon shaft 51 which in turn can be rotatably driven by a motor 52 or byother suitable means.

Briefly, in operation, the oven and wares are prepared for firing, and adoor or closing means (not shown) is put in place. Heating means arethen engaged and the oven 10 receives said heat. By referring to asuitable device indicating and/ or controlling same, the operator willadjust the damping system by actuating lever 43, which in turn rotatesrod 42, and by swinging levers 40 and 41 in an arcuate manner, saidlevers 40 and 41 will bear against slots 38 and 39 in plate 37 andtherefore move framework 36 supporting damper tiles 46 and 47 in alongitudinal manner over the flue openings 23. As will be easily seen,the damper adjusting sequence can be achieved by relatively safe andeconomical means and no longer necessitates awkward or inaccessibleoperation.

The present invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular construction or arrangement of parts, or application of anysuch construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method ofoperation or use, since the same may be modified in various particularsor relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedinvention hereinabove shown and described of which the embodiments areintended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operativeembodiment, and not to show all of the various for-ms and modificationsin which the invention might be embodied.

What I claim is:

1. In a kiln or oven having a damper system, said kiln comprising amovable framework having a firing chamber with a roof portion therein,flue openings disposed along said roof, two or more pier members formedon top of said roof adjacent said flue openings, first frame means aredisposed to rest on said pier members, rod members vertically suspendedfrom said framework, hollow guide means connected vertically to saidfirst frame means and adapted to slidingly receive said rod members sothat whenever said roof vertically expands or contracts, said framemeans may move upwardly or downwardly in the same spatial relationshipthereto, second frame means disposed to lie within and be guided by saidfirst frame means are adapted to move in a longitudinal direction abovesaid roof, damper plates which are adapted to firmly rest on said secondframe means, and actuating means adapted to move said second frame meanslongitudinally and thereby also the said damper plates.

2. In a kiln or oven having a damper system, said kiln comprising amovable rigid framework having a firing chamber with a roof portiontherein, flue openings disposed along said roof, pier members formedwith and constructed on top of said roof and disposed adjacent said flueopenings, first frame means are disposed to rest on said pier members ina plane parallel to the plane of the roof, rod members verticallysuspended from said frame member means, hollow guide means adapted toslidingly receive said rod members so that whenever said piers movevertically due to the expansion or contraction of said roof, said framemeans may move upwardly or downwardly in the same spatial relationshipthereto, second frame means disposed to lie within and be slidinglyguided by said first frame means are adapted to move in a longitudinaldirection above said roof, damper plates which are adapted to rest onsaid second frame means, and actuating means adapted to move said secondframe means and thereby also the said damper plates over and away fromsaid fl'ue openings.

3. In an intermittent kiln or oven having an associated damper system,said kiln comprising a movable framework having a firing chamber with aroof portion therein, flue openings disposed lengthwise along said roof,two or more pier members constructed on top of said roof adjacent saidflue openings, first frame means are disposed to rest on said piermembers, means attached to said first frame means and adapted to guidesaid first frame means so that whenever said piers move vertically dueto the expansion or contraction of said roof, said means may moveupwardly or downwardly in the same spatial relationship thereto, secondframe means lie on said first frame means and are adapted to move abovesaid roof, damper plates which are adapted to rest on second framemeans, and actuating means adapted to move said second frame means abovesaid roof and thereby also the said damper plates over and away fromsaid flue openings.

4. In a kiln or oven having a damper system, said kiln comprisingframework means having a firebrick or refractory chamber with a roofportion therein, said roof having a multiplicity of flue openingslongitudinally disposed therein, pier members disposed and constructedon said roof between said flue openings, a rigid framework resting onsaid pier members so that its plane is substantially parallel to theplane of said roof, vertically disposed guide means attached to saidrigid framework and adapted to maintain said framework in the samespatial relationship to said roof, movable framework means set withinsaid rigid framework, damper plates in engagement with said movableframework, and actuating means adapted to move said movable frameworkmeans and damper plates in a horizontal plane slightly above the topportion of said flue openings so that said damper plates may cover ormove away from said flue openings.

5. In a kiln or oven having a damper system, said kiln comprisingframework means having a firebrick or refractory chamber with a roofportion therein, said roof having a multiplicity of flue openingsdisposed therein, pier members disposed and constructed on said roofbetween said flue openings, a rigid framework resting on said piermembers, vertically disposed guide means attached to said rigidframework and adapted to maintain said framework in the same spatialrelationship to said roof, movable framework means set on said rigidframework, damper plates in engagement with said movable framework, andactuating means adapted to move said movable framework means and damperplates either individually or jointly in a plane slightly above the topportion of said fiue openings.

6. A damper system for intermittent kilns having flue openings and aroof portion thereof, said system comprising pier members placed on topof said roof adjacent said flue openings, first framework meanssuspended on said pier members a specified distance above said kilnroof, vertically disposed rod members adapted to coact with said firstframework means, means for guiding said framework means in asubstantially vertical direction on said rods so that whenever said roofexpands or contracts thereby causing similar motion of said pier memberssaid framework means will also correspondingly rise or descend, secondframework means adapted to slidingly move in a lengthwise directionalong said first framework means, damper plates set on said secondframework means, and actuating means for moving said second frameworkmeans and thereby said damper tiles longitudinally over and away fromsaid flue openings.

7. A damper system for kilns or ovens having flue openings and a roof,said damper system comprising pier members constructed on said roof,rigid framework means suspended on said pier members above said kilnroof,

means adapted to guide said framework means so that its plane remainsparallel to the plane of the said roof even though said roof expands orcontracts causing similar movement in said pier members and therebycausing said framework means to correspondingly rise or descend, dampermeans adapted to move along said rigid framework means, and actuatingmeans for moving said damper means individually or collectively over oraway from said flue openings.

8. In a kiln or oven having a damper system as described in claim 2,whereby said damper plates are individually movable over or away fromsaid flue openings.

9. A damper system for intermittent kilns as described in claim 6,whereby said damper plates are individually movable over or away fromsaid flue openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 662,661 11/ 1900 Witcher 1 26-289,674,446 4/ 1954 Arutunolf 263-46 3,211,443 10/ 1965 Starner et al 26346X FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. J. J. CAMBY, AssistantExaminer.

7. A DAMPER SYSTEM FOR KILNS OR OVENS HAVING FLUE OPENINGS AND A ROOF,SAID DAMPER SYSTEM COMPRISING PIER MEMBERS CONSTRUCTED ON SAID ROOF,RIGID FRAMEWORK MEANS SUSPENDED ON SAID PIER MEMBERS ABOVE SAID KILNROOF, MEANS ADAPTED TO GUIDE SAID FRAMEWORK MEANS SO THAT ITS PLANEREMAINS PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE SAID ROOF EVEN THOUGH SAID ROOFEXPANDS OR CONTRACTS CAUSING SIMILAR MOVEMENT IN SAID PIER MEMBERS ANDTHEREBY CAUSING SAID